Home of Senior Softball-USA and Senior Softball World Championships
Advertisement: Queen Kapiolani Hotel

SSUSA Message Board

Message board home
Sign-in or register to get started
Online now: 1 member: DBLB32; 8 anonymous
Change topic:

Discussion: Talking Trash

Guys, I was wondering what you guys think about trash talking?
My view is that’s its good defense….I mean, if I know I can get in your head (you know who you are) bye shouting something to you from the outfield or messing with your head while catching, is that not good defense? I was once told that 80% of softball is thinking and 20% is ability, then what’s wrong with a little mouth jarring? A lot guys get upset when they hear someone say something to them while at the plate, to me that’s motivation to do what I do and shut you up! I know there’s a fine line between talking trash and unsportsmenship, but knowing your opponents weaknesses is also part of the game…Mentally or Physically........Just like Gary19 does on this Site....He knows how to push our buttons....lol
One of the things I like about senior softball is that there is not much of that. Thankfully most people in senior softball grew out of that punk stage of their life.
Not much room for that in the game. I do not like it and never have. Save it for the basketball court. The younger generation loves to trash talk but it is not for me. However if you are a teammate I can rib you with the best of them. Thanks Harry
Talking Trash usually inferior team or players... I like to do the talking with bat and glove....Crap talkers just give added incentive to destroy them....And if there team is getting blown out the peddle will stayed floored!
Oh sure, everything comes back to me. lol

cal, were Larry Bird and Ali punks? Was Deion Sanders a punk? You might think so, just wondering.

birdie, were the guys I just mentioned the "younger generation"? Was Sam Huff? You should have heard some of the things he would say to Jim Brown.

swing, how inferior were Bird or Ali or Sanders or Huff?

You guys should have taken up chess. How sensitive can grown/old men be?
I can't believe this is a subject without an obvious answer.

This is almost like constantly griping about umpire calls, usually done by inferior or losing teams.

Do any of the new young guns talk trash today? They didn't 25 years ago when I was 50 nor do the older players today.

The most you might get is a quiet back handed compliment not heard by anyone else. I always took it as a sign of weakness by the talker.

Davy
Bird weak?

Ali weak?

Huff weak?

Talking might not be your "style", and that is fine. But to call them weak is just silly.
rightrj1, an interesting topic. I have never liked trash talk, and fortunately have seldom experienced it. When I was young, trash talking was a no no in bowling (my best sport) and in tennis, and I have almost never encountered it in softball, for which I'm thankful. The examples Gary19 cites were trashtalkers when they were in their 20s and 30s—I hope they outgrew it as they matured. I, too, consider it unsportsmanlike in senior softball, but, like birdie, fair game with one's teammates (ever hear the abuse a guy gets when he takes a called third strike?!).
I understand how some of you don’t like it……but if you know someone doesn’t like it, doesn’t that give you an advantage over that opponent? Here’s an example;
Easy out coming to the plate, he can’t hit! Doesn’t that put pressure on the guy coming to the plate to perform?
He’s thinking now…I think that’s good defense…. No one liked Ali cause he could back up everything he was saying…..Most guys who talk trash, (IMO) are better players because they have to be! Not the weaker opponents some of you have mention earlier. I’ve never heard a sorry player talk trash!!!! Only the better players….Birdie how can you tease your teammates and not your opponents? We all play mind games with our opponents, so what’s the different in saying what you’re thinking…..To me if someone talks trash it’s just more motivation to do well...…brings it on!! Thanks guys, it's nice to hear what others think about it!
When and where I grew up trash talking was described as poor sportsmanship. I was told that the reason they called it trash talk was that trashy people were the ones doing it. That perspective has pretty much stuck with me. "That's all I've got to say about that."
I have heard a very small amount of trash talk in senior softball.
The ones that have talked trash have been a little lower in IQ, it is obivous they are not very smart and just have no class or have been a failure in 99.9% of the things they have tried in their lives.
Almost without exception the MEN I have met in senior softball are REAL PEOPLE, not fake.
Glad I have not been around you the trash one.
I didn't realize Ali, Bird and Sanders played senior softball, what team do they play on?
LMAO nice cal 50.
LMAO nice cal 50.
cal, so sorry to see that the concept of analogies escapes you.
Gary19 I think we are all surprised to see your lack of understanding of complete and utter destain for your wise@#$ remarks that have no good reason for being allowed on this board. I vote we ban you forever, any seconds... all in favor...
the ayes have it!!!!!
Gary 19 if anyone knows about ANAL-ogies... it surely is you!
Gary,
Apples and oranges are both round.
Young professional athletes and mostly friendly senior softball players are human.

Is that the analogy you are saying escapes me?
the nice thing about senior softball is you dont see trash talking,teams give 100 percent on the field then win or lose shake hands and head to the parking lot for a cold beverage.and everyone cut gary some slack he is stuck in a time warp,he thinks its 1974.
I realize senior softball completes the full circle of the sport, taking us back to t-ball (everyone bats, 5 runs per inning, everyone thinks they are entitled to an award, and so on), and if you don't like to talk that is fine. But if it is done properly and in the right spirit it is fine and doesn't merit the insults and comments made on this thread.
Maybe we should ask "OUR RESIDENT GENIUS"

Do the people still "Trash Talk" during the "Old Timers Games"?

Or at the Celebrity Softball Games?



is it trash talking when you back up what you say your gonna do,seems like bird would tell the guy guarding to don't bother as the ball was gonna go in the hoop anyways,ali just told the people how he was gonna beat someone in the ring,is this trash talking when you back it up.....

batbreaker,he is like the guy who doesn't registrar to vote,but has to tell everyone how to run the government....he refuses to play,but needs to tell everyone else how to.....

i second the vote by the way......
mad dog asked:
"is it trash talking when you back up what you say your gonna do"

Yes, trash-talking is trash-talking, regardless of whether the player can back it up. It's a reflection of character, not ability.

Let's be clear about what trash-talking is. Expressing confidence in what you can do (Larry Bird putting the ball in the hoop) is boastful, but tearing someone else down (like yelling at a weak hitter that he can't hit when he steps to the plate) is mean-spirited and poor sportsmanship.

Also, it's very doubtful that talking trash will help your team win the game; more likely it will fire up your opponent. This isn't the NBA, the NFL, or even a semi-pro baseball team like the Chicago Cubs (sorry, as a White Sox fan I couldn't help myself talk a little trash there).

This is Senior Softball. It can get very competeive, but even in the hardest-fought game between two tough teams there can be (and often is) a spirit of friendly competition and mutual respect. This is one of the things that makes competing in Senior Softball an overall satisfying experience.

If trash-talking became widespread and accepted in our sport, I think some players would walk away from it. At the very least, it would leave a bitter taste for those who outgrew that sort of immature behavior decades ago.
Gary19 everything you comment on, on this board is done improperly and in the wrong spirit. that is why the comments are harsh and accurate. You have brought all these upon yourself and, I believe what you see as an insult is a accurate description of how everyone on this board see and feels about you. Change your ways and maybe these feelings will change, but not sure any of this will sink in.
Oh, I wasn't referring to anything as insults toward me. I couldn't care less what you guys call me. I was referring to cal talking about a "punk stage" (whatever that means) and swing calling talkers "inferior players or teams".

If guys don't want to trash talk, that is up to them, but calling them punks and inferior is just silly.

Monty, Old Timers Games and Celebrity Games are not played with standings, final team placement, and awards. Very noticeable difference.

Marty, my guess is only the very sensitive would walk away due to some good-natured talking.
Good-natured and mean-spirited are 2 different things, which is why I said let's be clear about what trash-talking is.
I totally agree. To me it is only a way to get inside someone's head and get an edge, not to make then want to cry, or fight, or both.
Saying stuff to get inside an opponent's head to put him off his game is not good-natured. Perhaps the best definition of trash-talking is the intent behind it.

TRASH TALKING IS JUST ANOTHER FORM OF BULLYING!


seems to me the ones that do all the trash talking are just trying to make up for their lack of skills.
Marty, perhaps. The only intent is to get inside their head a bit and throw them off their game. They are only words, if the guys want to block it out that is up to them.

Monty, seriously? Bullying? Clearly you have NEVER seen an actual case of bullying. To say what you did is about as insensitive to all the kids who have been bullied as I can imagine. You can apologize to them anytime you want.

tg, tell Ali that. Or Bird.

Didn't your Ma ma tell you.....

If you can't say something nice to somebody...

Then shut the hell up!


Way to try to duck and dodge the ridiulously insensitive and stupid comment you made.

Bullying? Really? My God....... =(
Gary, to clarify what I think the "punk stage" is. It is a time in a person's life where a person will say or do anything to try to agitate someone, combined with the fact that they have an overwhelming desire to be noticed, but never realize how stupid it makes them look. Some people never go through that stage and most that do grow out of it. Notice I say most and not all as is evident.
cal, that sounds reasonable, though I don't see what it has to do with trash talking in a sport. The purpose is not just agitition for agitation's sake, or to get noticed, but simply to get a bit of an edge. Nothing more, nothing less. At least that is how I see it.
19
Since when did Bullying only apply to kids?
Your doing it all the time on this board.



19
Since when did Bullying only apply to kids?
Your doing it all the time on this board.



You can have an entire team of the nicest and best sportsmen except for 1 person who acts as a punk. That one person will make the entire team look bad. Teams who only play that team once or twice in a year will look at the entire team in a bad light. The only reason that people act like that is to be noticed.
Ask 100 people off the street to describe bullying. See how many use children in the example. See how many use adults. Now see how many use softball players.

cal, you might just not understand this aspect of sports. Again, in this case to call them punks which by your own definition is just not applicable.

And if people judge an entire group by one person in that group, it is those people who have the biggest problem.

How about we ask all the people on this board?

If 10 people on this board agree that your a "Bully", will you admit your wrong?

Maybe even an apology?

Can you "Man Up"?





Bully YES
Not that I expect you to know much of anything about proper survey techniques, but using anything less than a random sampling renders your survey useless. Clearly you want no part of my idea for a random sample and an objective survey.

Apologize for what? Having opinions different than those on this board? Seriously? You call that 'manning up'? You whine about words and call trash talking bullying, and now you are the arbiter of manhood. LOL
100% Bully
Wow!!! You guys sure took this to another level? Bullying, Punks, inferior, Immature.
I was just asking if you have a defensive advantage bye saying something to get in their heads….I see noting wrong with playing mind games with your opponent….You guys are way too SENITIVE to be 50+…I’m sorry I started the thread!!!!
Genious.why just Ali? why not put Tyson in there with that group of trash talkers? Lets keep this softball only and people who actually play the game.LAST WORD
rightrj1, it's not a matter of being "sensitive" -- it's a matter of sportsmanship, and respect for the game and those who play it. As to whether a lot of trash talk will help your team win a Senior Softball game, I doubt it. One thing's for certain though -- it will earn you and your team the reputation of being a bunch of jerks. If someone on my team started talking trash, a half dozen teammates would tell him to cut it out.

Full Monty, I don't think Gary's posts in this thread or in this forum are tantamount to "bullying." A bully is someone who uses his physical or mental strength to pick on those weaker than him. I don't know how far he can hit a softball, but the words he types here are only as strong as the validity of his arguments. On that score, I don't think he qualifies as a bully.
Hey rightrj1, If you are "Really Sorry You Started the Thread" ........... THEN '''''

You could leave this board forever and take gary19 with you.
That way you can say your day has been productive.
For all of you non trash talkers, you mite identify with this.About 5 years ago we were playing in a pretty good 10 team tourney,young guys, and had made it to the finals.This one team had a catcher that loved to mouth and trash talk.They came back from the losers bracket and beat us to take us to the if game.They get us down about 11-12 runs and old boy catcher,lets just call him gary.is really getting off with his mouth.Well,they only had 10 players and their third baseman gets hurt and has to go catch.Old boy ,gary has to go play third.Well,hes still running those chops so my team proceeded to hit him 11 straight missiles at third to which he fieled none. Finally got so far in the grass that if he did catch a ball he would have had a relay to get it first.Well ole bou, gary lost his voice and couldnt talk and we proceeded to run run them boys,Thanks to gary and his trash talking.This is a true story, only the names have been changed to protect the guilty.Now,LAST WORD
tg69 LMAO got to love that!!!!!!!!
I vote Bully

Of course 19 likes Trash Talk.
All he can do is "Talk"
He don't play Senior Softball.
Tyson could barely put three words together, not sure how much trash talking he was doing, and certainly very little compared to Ali.

And Shut Up "don't" talk English!
You might want to check the FIRST PAGE of the rule book under Article 3 of the Code of Ethics where it states that players aren't allowed to taunt or degrade another player.
Remember, this is amateur Senior softball we're talking about . . .
Crusher,
I see you have a some Punk / Bully in yourself……I see you also know how to trash talk!!!! I wasn’t singling out anyone on this thread, so why would you do it to me?
“You could leave this board forever and take gary19 with you” was that really called for?
I was raised to respect my elders, but I’ll make an exception in your case, since you’re running off at the mouth…..We’ll just have to agree to disagree on this subject, but you should never say there’s no place for trash talking in Senior Softball, because that’s exactly what you do on this web site! So maybe you should think about leaving the site also…THAT WAY YOU'LL HAVE A PRODUCTIVE DAY!
The personal attacks are disgusting. It is a cliche but can't we just agree to disagree w/o personal animosity. Gary 19 is logically consistent in his approach to softball rule changes and to "gamesmanship". I don't personally agree generally with his approach, but find no reason to attack any aspect what some may think his approach says about him personally. It is just irrelevant what you think or don't think about someone because of his approach to senior softball. And just because someone attacks you personally does not mean you have to answer in kind. Use reason, not insult or personal attack.
Fact check: Mike Tyson is very bright and can put many words together that make sense. He reads and thinks and appears to be a good father. In the early days he was hopelessly shy and quiet but the brains were always there. He used intimidation extremely effectively, i.e., he knew how to psych an opponent well (trash talk????).
was that before or after that he discovered he liked to NIBBLE on other folks ears.
Sorry,I forgot,softball only LOL.
Gary19 when he was at his best I don't think Mike Tyson needed to trash talk anyone!! His intimidating look and knockout power was more than enough to get in most of his opponents heads. I vividly recall his fight with then undefeated world champion Michael Spinks. The scared look on Spinks face when Tyson was making his way to the ring said it all.
stick, I completely agree, which is why I never mentioned Tyson as a trash talker. I remember watching his fight with Spinks, the 91 seconds of it or whatever it lasted, and Spinks was beat well before the opening bell. Heck, perhaps well before he even woke up that morning, assuming he ever got to sleep that night.

Just a pay day for Spinks. Oddly enough Michael Spinks pretty much disappeared from the scene after that.
I agree with Birdie....I know his talking to team mates is not done in the heat of battle but in jest beside the cooler later. I umpire and just have to shake my head at some of the stuff I hear....back in the day it was considered poor sportsmanship and a good coach would sit you down if ya did it....these games we play are just a snapshot of life....Be careful what you teach your kids. We wonder why the world is so full of bullying.
rightrj1 - good reply.
I really wanted to put LOL on my above post as I had a big grin on my face while keying the post.
Have fun in senior ball as it is a great game with great people that play and come to watch (kids and spouses)!!!!!
I just wish I could get my softball swing out of my golf swing.
See you down the raad. james
There is that silly use of the word "bullying" again. And I am sure all the world's bullying is caused by trash talking at sporting events.
Trash talk is called trash for a reason. We have all lived most of our lives. We play softball for fun, for healthy competition and to stay young. A positive and respectful atmosphere to play can be created or destroyed. We are not professional athletes looking for a competitive edge. We are just a bunch of older guys trying to enjoy our last good years. Bullying takes many forms, physical, psychological or emotional. Age is irrelevant. I don't want to be around trash talk or bullying in any of its forms. Most of us have experienced enough trash and want a positive and supportive environment to bring out the best in ourselves and others. You are free to do or say what you want but there are always consequences. My vote is trash talk is a form of bullying no matter who does it, famous athlete or not. Sure we can playfully kid each other but it is easy to not know the real effects on another.
really is that why we have kids committing suicide,b/c of some insensitive adults kids talking trash,or even physically abusing a child.....one clowns kids turn their noses up at another b/c they don't wear the brand name clothes they wear,so they feel it is ok to rag on them about it,or their parents don't make the money the others do,so don't ever tell me words can't be bullying,as it happens all the time.......

as you see i'm blaming the parents for this as it comes from the kids up bringing as no child has bullying born into them,just as they are not born racists.......
In all seriousness, equating trash talking at some friggin' game with real-life bullying might be the dumbest thing I have ever read on here or anywhere. Really, it could very well be.
This is how "bullying" is defined by wikipidia:

"Bullying is a form of aggressive behavior manifested by the use of force or coercion to affect others, particularly when the behavior is habitual and involves an imbalance of power. It can include verbal harassment, physical assault or coercion and may be directed repeatedly towards particular victims, perhaps on grounds of race, religion, gender, sexuality, or ability.[2][3] The "imbalance of power" may be social power and/or physical power. The victim of bullying is sometimes referred to as a "target".
Bullying consists of three basic types of abuse – emotional, verbal, and physical. It typically involves subtle methods of coercion such as intimidation. Bullying can be defined in many different ways. The UK currently has no legal definition of bullying,[4] while some U.S. states have laws against it.[5]
Bullying ranges from simple one-on-one bullying to more complex bullying in which the bully may have one or more 'lieutenants' who may seem to be willing to assist the primary bully in his or her bullying activities. Bullying in school and the workplace is also referred to as peer abuse.[6] Robert W. Fuller has analyzed bullying in the context of rankism.
Bullying can occur in any context in which human beings interact with each other. This includes school, church, family, the workplace, home, and neighborhoods. It is even a common push factor in migration. Bullying can exist between social groups, social classes, and even between countries (see jingoism). In fact, on an international scale, perceived or real imbalances of power between nations, in both economic systems and in treaty systems, are often cited as some of the primary causes of both World War I and World War II.[7][8]"

The victim or "target" to me is what defines
bullying. I grew up in a large eastern city where verbal gamemanship was the rule not the exception. I can't be bullied playing softball by anything said. However, I am sure that some targets of verbal "trash" talking feel intimated, or abused. They "feel" they are being bullied and therefore they are being bullied. Reasonable people can argue whether the target should feel bullied, but that is not
the point. It is not dumb to believe that some trash talk is bullying, in my opinion.
There are few people that haven't learned the necessary social skills to properly interact with the rest of us. The situation really doesn't matter, these same people will be socially inept in all aspects of life.

To all of you that are merely joking and "playing" mind games with me, I love it- let's have a beer together. To the few bad apples- I'll pray for you.

I am just happy to be alive and breathing and still able to play this game I love. Thank you
There are few people that haven't learned the necessary social skills to properly interact with the rest of us. The situation really doesn't matter, these same people will be socially inept in all aspects of life.

To all of you that are merely joking and "playing" mind games with me, I love it- let's have a beer together. To the few bad apples- I'll pray for you.

I am just happy to be alive and breathing and still able to play this game I love. Thank you
When we were kids, intimidation was a small part of the game. Whether it was the spoken word or merely having your entire team stand outside the dugout the whole game. Teams I played for were never big on playing verbal volleyball. We always believed in letting a sleeping dog lie.

I think one thing that may or may not have been mentioned is that Bird, Ali, Sanders and Huff were ALL professional athletes paid to play their sport. I don't believe there are many on this board making a living playing softball.

When I was younger my nickname was "Serious". After having angioplasty done at age 36 I gained a new perspective on a lot of things. I still want to win as bad as anyone, but trash talking and buzzing the middle are nothing I want any part of. Winning and losing with class is something I have always believed in and I preach.

I enjoy my teammates and have made a lot of friends in this game. Having a cold beverage with some of the guys you just played against and swapping stories is why I still play.

Con
Just a quick note. Bird was an extremely good slow pitch player during and shortly after his Indiana State University days.

If you ever noticed, his right index finger was crooked. It came from breaking in playing slow pitch in 1979.

(as most of us do, he set it himself)
If someone needs to trash talk to get an edge in a slow pitch senior softball game, I can't relate. I appreciate the vast majority that don't need it.
The most fun for me is meeting new friends that are also competitors on the field. To go out-give 100% and be a sportsman is what it is all about to me. I was privileged to meet the guys on Hollis, MTC, Kansas City Kids, and got a chance to renew acquaintances with the Master Collision guys from Denver. Total Class-every guy I met. Being able to compete against them and be on a great GSF team that did well this weekend made this a memorable weekend. I ignore the trash talk-probably won't hear it anyway, and have no need for it. I say let your play on the field speak for you.

From Little League on up, team practices teach and practice the skills of the game. I have never, ever seen "Trash Talk" being promoted or practiced by any coach, at any team practice. Why not?

Who wants to be thought of as "That guy with the trash mouth"? Who really wants to be like Mike? Not me.
Sure, they got away with it.
Who thinks we should be teaching kids how to "Trash Talk", because they did it?

I for one would much rather act like a Joe DiMaggio, Tony Gwynn or Derek Jeter on the playing field than any of the others mentioned above. All with great ability and very little mouth! All Class Acts!

Yelling "You Suck" (especially from the outfield) to players on the other team or people you don't know, is just ignorant. Who ever said "We won because we out Trash Talked those guys"? Or instead of "nice catch" they say, "that was great Trash Talking?"
If the Pitcher is trash talking,is it ok to hit middle?
When is it not okay to hit the ball into a part of the field?
5ToolsinOhio -- if the pitcher talks trash that is one position where U better be able to back it up.
Trash Talking:
Told my wife I could cook better than her; McDonald's $1.00 hamburgers are getting monotonous.

Told her I knew how to run a house better than her: so now I get to run the vacuum, oven, dishwasher, washer/dryer.

Told my wife that she had some qualities that I did not like; she told me it was because of those qualities that she did not get a better looking/richer husband.

Told my employer that I knew how to run a company better than him; unemployment benefits do not pay near what I was making under his employment.

I play on a team that we are always cutting up & semi-gouging each other, but never are we trash-talking each other down.

Senior Softballers should be over that junk: I will NEVER play with a trash-talker; there's enough junk in the media & in everyday life, that I will not tolerate it when I take my time & money to attend SSball Tourneys.

Mentioning Ali: I think Frazier went to his grave thinking about all the bad things that Ali said about him. I pick Frazier anyday.

BTW: If you believe in trash-talking try it out on your wife, kids & grandchildren & then see if anyone remembers you on Father's Day, BDay or Christmas.

Tater50
You Cannot Fool the Man in the Mirror
Well put, Tater.
RJ, do you really believe that it is good defense?
BW
Anybody ever hear of a 6-tool player?

1) Hits for Average
2) Hits for Power
3) Fielding/Catches the Ball
4) Strong Arm/Accurate Throws
5) Foot Speed/Runs the Bases
6) Trash Talk/Runs his Mouth
Tater50 I've read that Joe Frazier was actually one of the more outspoken people in boxing to lift the ban that Ali had for refusing to join the military so he could box again. It goes back to their days as amateurs when they were actually good friends and helped each other out in getting their careers started.
I saw a special on Joe Frazier fairly recently and from what i witnessed he was kind of a lonely man in his final days. He lived in Philadelphia, by himself in an upstairs room in one of the gyms he used to train in. He looked rather unkept and his speech was quite slurry--punchdrunk. Compare that to Ali who while also punchdrunk and with Parkinson's lives a very good life on a very nice ranch in southwest Michigan and is very highly regarded and revered by most people today. Looking at the careers of these two they were big names who both made a lot of money. How is it possible for the comatants in boxings all time greatest rivalry for one guy to end up nearly being on the skids and the other be financially well off?
Stick8-life in the US is not always fair-Ali was perceived as the good guy and Frazier was the guy that threatened him. Was it right? No, because both captivated us all back then, like boxing really hasn't since. The other thing is that too many athletes have no idea how to manage the wealth that they receive and blow it so fast-without ever helping anyone else-that they end up right back where they started. Ali had the right people to help him and Frazier didn't.
The other thing that has not been brought up here is the difference between trash talking and mind games or gamesmanship. Trash talking is cheap and really stupid in my mind. Mind games are fun-Hollis tried it on me after 3 wind aided Hr's this weekend-making no bones about the fact they knew I had hit three and asking openly if I was going to hit 4. Wow, that was fun-and I was lucky enough to make it four.There just is a huge difference-and to me there is no place in class softball for pure trash talking.
Actually had a few guys on another team talk trash after the game and continue on the next day..Said " BaseHawgs don't want any part of us". My comment was "You have the talking part done ". We beat them on Sunday. That's the best way to shut them up. Then they tell me "We'll see you tomorrow and we'll see ". They were right, I did see them loading up their cars and leaving before we won the Championship..It was not the team just a few knuckleheads on the team. If they read this they'll know who they were. Moral of the story " Don't write checks with your mouth that your a.. can't cash " :-o)
For you guys looking to join a team.
Never mind telling them about your softball abilities.
Just tell them your a great Trash Talker!

Enjoy your new team!
Webbie, you understand this. =)

Congrats!
"Wow!!! You guys sure took this to another level? Bullying, Punks, inferior, Immature.
I was just asking if you have a defensive advantage bye saying something to get in their heads….I see noting wrong with playing mind games with your opponent….You guys are way too SENITIVE to be 50+…I’m sorry I started the thread!!!!"

Mr Right, your statement above is so wrong... You asked us what we think of trash talking in your first sentence... This means if we think it's Crap,Bullying, punking, inferior, Immature,you were getting your answer to your question.. Don't put up a BS statement that it's gotten way out of hand because you didn't get the responses you were looking for! FYI. you may get the advantage on a few guys with trash talking, however it's just a chicken shit way of trying to win a game. I wouldn't be proud of winning that way. Trash talk is Trash talk... Putting something in someones head is different animal like Webbie said. I always have more respect for the guys that respect the game and teammates and the competition. Anything less is BS!
swing, there are a TON of guys who win games with BS extra runs and an extra fielder, and THIS is how you would not be proud winning??????? Seriously? Wow!

Taking runs from a team, or using and extra fielder, for no better reason than they are better than you and consequently in a higher classification is showing them respect? That is pride?

C'mon, look at the totality of the current senior game and see all of the absurdities it holds. Don't whine about being able to get an advantage over some guy with a weak mind. Whose fault is that?
There seems to be an attempt to distinguish mind games from trash talking. Webbie's example we can
generally agree is a mind game gone awry. Wrong target and 4th HR. As I previously mentioned bullying is in the mind of the target. When is a mind game ok and when does it become trash talk or even bullying?
Is this a mind game or trash talk? Do you think it is OK to do it?

Close game, bases loaded 3-0 count on batter. Before pitcher set to deliver next pitch someone yells out "Don't be nervous pitcher."
Sounds perfectly fine to me, after all the pitcher put himself in that situation in a number of ways.
“Don’t write checks with your mouth that your a... can't cash”
AND

“If You want to kick some a.. , you have to bring some a..!”

Now that’s what I'm talking about.

Never did like a Bragger, pompous loud mouth. Who thinks He's all that.

I have played in a lot of games for 40 years and nothing good ever happens when there is a lot of shit talking back and forth. Some people just can't take it. And I’m one of them. I take it personal.

There is NO room in our game for TRASH TALKING. Talk with your Bat.

No on G19! He is no bully, just miss understood.
Thank you Canjack, you have just demonstrated that what constitutes bullying is the perception of the target. You said you just can't take it, which is as far as I am concerned the best statement yet why mind games and trash talking shouldn't be part of amateur slow pitch softball.
I talk all of the time. Just this last weekend:

I thanked the umpires before every game and asked how it was we had the best umps in the tourney doing our game.

I told the pitcher my wife was in the stands, so try to throw it so I could hit it.

I hit a ball to the SS that he made a good play on, so the next time up, I reminded him that I hit it to him the time before.

An open base and Steve Imlay hitting in front of me, I suggested the pitcher walk him to get to me.

I hit a double to the fence and as I hit second the SS said no runner, I agreed with him. I was not going to try for third especially with Purvis batting after me.

All in all I like communicating with everyone, life is too short.
I talk all of the time. Just this last weekend:

I thanked the umpires before every game and asked how it was we had the best umps in the tourney doing our game.

I told the pitcher my wife was in the stands, so try to throw it so I could hit it.

I hit a ball to the SS that he made a good play on, so the next time up, I reminded him that I hit it to him the time before.

An open base and Steve Imlay hitting in front of me, I suggested the pitcher walk him to get to me.

I hit a double to the fence and as I hit second the SS said no runner, I agreed with him. I was not going to try for third especially with Purvis batting after me.

All in all I like communicating with everyone, life is too short.

softball4b
What you said on the ball field is funny, entertaining refreshing and creative. I would welcome you and others like you on a ball field as I see you as positive attitudes. However, I very seriously doubt it would be classified as "Trash Talk" which is basically putting down and negative towards opposing players.

I think people that start trash talking are fucking idiots.


That said, I will certainly verbally jump all over them if given even a slight opportunity.

Once in a while, Karma puts everything in line and the trash talking Dbag has nowhere to hide.
I see that we have once again regressed to what is done best on here when something is disagreed with. Name-calling.
It's clear that the vast majority see trash talking as negative behavior. It's also clear that for some it's a compulsive need. No amount of discussion will likely change compulsive trash talking. We will probably just have to deal with it like any other negative social behavior. Too bad we have to endure it on this board. Before you let let the frustration get to you it's best to walk away, other wise you probably just feed the need of the trash talker to continue. This topic has continued to absurdity, so I'm out of here. Better things to do. Hope this topic goes away soon.
Been playing on the SSUSA tournament tour since 2002. Thats about 10=12 tournaments a season which translates to somewhere around 550 plus games. Can't remember but maybe one time where there was borderline trash talking. Seen nothing but sportsmanship and respectful play. It is one of the reasons I enjoy playing SSUSA tournament ball so much.
Question for all: Suppose you were at bat and someone in the field stated to his teammates "play him over toward left, he never goes to right" or "choke him off, no power, make him hit it over your head" or "pitch him inside, he can't hit that pitch". Would that be, in your view, considered trash talking?
Nope!
stick. Nope that's just paying attention to your opponents strenght / weakness.. Not an insult, most of us can hit it where the situation requires...AND GARY19 ...I ALWAYS RUN FOR MYSELF..:-o)
Good job!!! =)

stick8
That does not sound like Trash Talk to me.

It sounds more like a "scouting report"!

I consider "Trash Talk" to be constant insults or put downs of the opposing player so as to piss him off, get his blood boiling or get on his nerves Watch Don Rickles, the "Sultan of Insult" do it. Sometimes too much "Trash Talking" can lead to a confrontation in the parking lot.

Don Rickles has to be one of the funniest guys of all time!! I've seen him on television numerous times and caught his show in Vegas. There isn't one ethnic group that escpaes his wrath!! That being said I've never witnessed anyone on a softball field ever act like Rickles does.

Yes,Rickles is a funny guy.
But you wouldn't want him to be yelling at you for a whole game!
"That being said I've never witnessed anyone on a softball field ever act like Rickles does."

stick, I doubt if you ever will.
Wow, how can anyone mistake placing your defense for trash talking? What I consider trash talking has a malevolent undertone and is intended to be malicious in nature. Pure crap! I really have not heard that on the field in senior softball. As a matter of fact, I was very impressed with Hollis this last week had a prayer at the end of each game at the mound which was well attended by both teams. That's what I am talking about in senior softball so often. We lose track of what is important in life, but it is refreshing that some remember. I think most in Senior softball 'get it'.
Sign-in to reply or add to a discussion or post your own message and start a new discussion. If you don't have a message board account, please register for a free nickname. It will only take a moment.
INTERNATIONAL
SOFTBALL
TOURS
NATIONAL SPONSORS
OFFICIAL GLOVE
OF SSUSA